It’s July and it’s time for investment dressing, we’re looking at summer dresses for 2005

So shoppers are becoming savvier across the board then. Yes it’s true, impulse buying is being replaced by investment buying which means we are looking to create our own personal vintage collection by buying clothes that will date well (and make a return season after season). A quick trade pole showing the choice of premium brands offering summer dresses for 2005 has Diane Von Furstenberg way out in front. This is a woman who has made her signature wrap dresses into a global look, so we’ve featured one of her latest designs on our own item.

This season’s ‘dress deluge,’ is in no doubt down to Ms Von Furstenberg so it is with that in mind that we also profile summer dresses for 2005 from the online stores in our Virtual Shopping Mall, with all our tips on what will suit your body shape. There are links straight to each site so that you can buy in an instant.

Summer dresses for 2005. Investment dressing – shapes to suit you!

• Kaftan styles are superbly flattering giving volume to small frames and loose floaty femininity to curvy and broad frames. They are this season’s summer look too, so buy in a bright colour and wear to death with large beads.

• Curvy women should choose fifties inspired shapes with flared skirts that are loose over the hips. Wrap dresses are also just glorious in a curvaceous figure (wear a thin Lycra vest underneath if you are worried about revealing too much bosom).

• Small-busted women can use bows, frills and ruching to give added volume at the top of the body.

• Big prints are for large and curvy bodies, small prints for thin or petite bodies and standard shapes can wear what they darn well please.

• Don’t be afraid to wear a contrasting slim-line vest underneath your chosen dress to hide away bra straps and give it a ‘very now,’ layered look.

Summer dresses for 2005 - Investment Dressing
Invest in a dress that will give you maximum return by asking yourself how many ways you can wear it. Choose designs that give you plenty of versatility. Below we profile five great styles for you to buy online right now.

Next.

Scarf Print Dress £49.99 from Next.

Curves
The perfect style if you are curvy. Yes this v-neck plunge and long vertical line will streamline your curves. The handkerchief hemline will flatter full calves. Wear with a thin v-neck vest in a complimentary or contrasting colour to camouflage bra-straps.

Petite
The perfect style if you are petite. The empire line will create the illusion of height and the vertical piping detail will elongate your body.

To know more about working with your body shape, down load an e-book individually written by me for your specific body type. Click here

For more ideas on great summer dresses for 2005, visit our virtual shopping mall. Click here

Scarf Print Dress £49.99 from Next. This 100%silk dress comes in petite sizes 6-16 and Regular sizes 6-20 and is easily the most versatile dress I found. Wear with flat hippie style sandals and t-shirt layers underneath for a casual look. This shape will also work well over your jeans. Dress up with heels or wedges and a statement necklace of wooden beads.

Home shopping from NEXT DIRECTORY. Request your copy of the new Spring/Summer Book Today. 

Marks and Spencer

Autograph satin spot dress £89.00 from Marks and Spencer

Curves
A wonderful style to give curvy figures definition. This plunge neckline with gathers under the bust and fitted waist will accentuate your bosom and waist. The flared skirt is best for full hips or pear shapes. The print is large enough to balance your body. Thicker straps over the shoulders covers bra straps

Standard.
A wonderfully elegant dress that has a great fashion edge, depending on how you accessorise

Tall
This dress will create a great balance with low front and back necklines to draw the eye lover down the body. This is an elegant style perfectly suited to your model height. A larger print balances your body and the circles give a great look of femininity without being florid. The wide straps are great for broad or sporty shoulders and will feminise them by covering a larger area of shoulder.

To know more about working with your body shape, down load an e-book individually written by me for your specific body type. Click here

For more ideas on great summer dresses for 2005, visit our virtual shopping mall. Click here

Autograph satin spot dress £89.00 from Marks and Spencer style number T532047 sizes up to 16 with full lining and draped waist tie. This is a dress that can equally be worn as a chic daytime style with kitten heels and matching handbag. Or glam it up catwalk style with round-toed heels and sequinned cardi for night time sparkle.

Fantastic fashion now online at Marks & Spencer

ASOS

Beaded tunic dress £35.00

Petite.
Yes you can wear designs with low waists when they have great embroidery detail at the top like this one. The uneven fringed hemline will also work in your favour by stopping the dress looking like it extends too low down the body.

Tall
This style works for you too because the low waist pulls the focus to the lower half of your body.

Standard
You can afford to create impact so wear this dress with bright coloured accessories for the full fashion statement.

To know more about working with your body shape, down load an e-book individually written by me for your specific body type. Click here

For more ideas on great summer dresses for 2005, visit our virtual shopping mall. Click here

Beaded tunic dress £35.00 sizes 8-14 product code CFCDR1054. Wear this dress for beach and festival with flats, cropped trousers or jeans. Glam it up at night with large dangly earrings, wedges and Grecian style ties.

ASOS

Laura Ashley

V-neck sleeveless print dress £70

Curves
The easiest style to wear this summer. This crisp A-line skims tummies and hips to create a chic streamlined shape. The (just below the knee but not low enough to make your calves look wider) hemline is perfect.

Standard
If you are more conventional in your tastes then this one, with it’s endless styling options from homespun to classic and special occasion will give you all the variations you need.

To know more about working with your body shape, down load an e-book individually written by me for your specific body type. Click here

For more ideas on great summer dresses for 2005, visit our virtual shopping mall. Click here

Laura Ashley V-neck sleeveless print dress £70 product number MD 133 Blended silk and cloth a-line dress. Wear with jeans and hippie sandals for festival styling, replace with kitten heels or flat pumps for city chic and strappy wedges and cropped wrap cardi for evening.

Laura Ashley

Net-a-Porter

Diane von Furstenberg 'Jane Cheetah' print wrap dress. £270 from Net-a-Porter

Curves
The wrap will always give you a siren-esque figure because it accentuates bust and waist. The very elegant prints and cuts of the DVF dress however always look classy. The flared skirt from the waist is all you need to flatter curvy thighs and bottoms.

Tall
The obvious wrap at the waist creates an elegant interruption breaking up the horizontal line your tall body creates. The flared dress also works to create width and volume, which gives a feminine and curvy finish

Standard.
So very chic is this dress and such a classic style that will become part of your personal vintage.

To know more about working with your body shape, down load an e-book individually written by me for your specific body type. Click here

For more ideas on great summer dresses for 2005, visit our virtual shopping mall. Click here

Chocolate brown and grey print stretch dress by DVF. £270. Well we couldn’t not offer you a classic DVF dress. Wear this sassy style with low heels and a soft bag for day and shapely high heels, and a structured bag for power dressing days or glamorous evenings.

Net-a-Porter

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